re: Headed to Austin in about a month.... update with a couple more questions in the OP.

Valentina's or Terry Black's (Barton Springs Rd) if you want excellent bbq without having to wait more than 30 min. Valentina's is better but Black's sides are better. The Terry Black's in Austin had better food than the original IMO. If you go to lockhart, I'd hit up Smitty's instead. LA BBQ is awesome but there can be a decent wait sometimes. I haven't been there in a few years, but it was probably close to 1.5 hours then.

As far as nice places:

Uchi
Barley Swine
Jacoby's
South Congress Cafe

Good bar food? Go to Easy Tiger.